Five hours sleep is tipping point for bad health.

[Tolkienista]

I received the news yesterday of a study which has found that at least five hours sleep may cut the over 50s chance of chronic health problems later in life with an audible sigh.

I've lived with sleep problems for many years and I've just got on with life as it's never stopped me doing anything and I'm very fit and active. However this headline worried me, because maybe I'm not doing enough to address my sleep issues.

Sometimes I can't get to sleep ( too much thinking) but more often than not, it's the dreaded waking up around 2 am and watching hour after hour go by. I've just learned to live with it now. I'm in my 60s and I'd rather just get on with life than make this into a bigger issue than it already is.

Would love to hear other sleep challenged members experiences. Is there hope? or have you accepted your sleep pattern and does it alarm you when you see a headline like this?

Have you ever tried listening to audiobooks with earphones or a bluetooth headband? I genuinely thought I had insomnia but I think I was just needing a bedtime story! It has to be a book that you already know so it isn't too exciting, but I've found that when I wake in the night, I just press play again and nod off easily. It's been my miracle cure.

Never listened to an audio book and I've no idea what a blue tooth headband is, but I'm glad they worked for you.

I'll consider anything to improve my sleep pattern.

I work nights and my sleep pattern is rubbish. Do make up for it when I'm off on A/L.

No way could I cope with working nights and trying to sleep the following day, but there are many people who have done so for years. Good luck with your sleep journey.

I agree actually, I have sleep problems and I've started listening to hypnotherapy, it really sends me off (although you want one that doesn't have the wake up in 3,2,1 at the end as you actually do wake up!) audiobooks had the same effect - I never got past ten mins of the woman in black without dropping off. I used to wake up at 3 am and spend a few hours awake but now I just pop something on and it sends me back off.

I read that article too and wondered if I should be worried. I often don’t sleep for five hours straight and haven’t for a long time.

I'm warming to this method.......it could be a runner.

I worry for my DP. He has sleep issues caused by a medical problem so not as simple as building good sleep hygiene, not even as simple as a sleep apnoea mask. I really worry about what will happen in our future if the doctors can’t fix the root cause.

I've never worried about the short term as I can always get up and do a day's work following a poor nights sleep, as long as I can have a decent breakfast to get me going for the day...... however the thought of building up problems for the long term, now that does make me concerned.

I'm going to third the suggestion of an audio book. When I'm particularly stressed, which is all the time at the moment, no matter how tired I am, I can't switch off.

Currently listening to Stand up for the classics on BBC sounds app. It's free, no adverts and has a sleep timer, generally 30 minutes is enough for me to have fallen to sleep!

I often don't get 5 hours either, but in my case it's due to caring for an autistic child that doesn't appear to need more than 5 hours sleep. By the time said child is asleep and I can try and get to sleep myself usually at least one hour has gone by. Not a lot I can do to improve things.

If I wake up in the early hours I take a fizzy multivitamin that has MAGNESIUM in it, switch on a podcast and within a short while I'm gone.

Occasionally it doesn't work quickly, but it will eventually I find. But everyone's experiences are different.

brown noise helps me. You can find long vids on YouTube to test it

I second this. I listen to an audiobook that I know well (Harry Potter works for me) so I don't get drawn in and want to know what happens next etc. It works really well for me.

Phenergan and white noise

I also find white/pink noise and gentle youtube videos (just listening to them, not watching) very good. Some ASMR videos are excellent.

Definitely an audio book. Harry Potter for me as I know the stories. It stops my mind going into overdrive and not switching off.

I've just discovered Brown noise. It's like a drug to my brain, I sleep up to 8 hours and it's really deep sleep. I play it through the night. It's on YouTube.

I gave up alcohol and while my sleep improved in general I found it difficult to get to sleep without a glass of wine. Podcasts or audio books are brilliant as pp's have said. It stops your mind racing. Another tip is absolutely zero caffeine past one pm. If I have caffeine too late in the day I can guarantee I will still be awake at one am. Oh, and phenergan on a Sunday night to start the week off well.

Another vote for Audio books. Official sleep hygiene advice is to get up if you can't sleep and go back to bed when you are tired.

That really wouldn't work for me. Although I'd probably have a cleaner kitchen that way.

At least with audiobooks I can relax, even if I don't sleep.

You can get wearable headphones - something like this (lots available).

You can either buy some audiobooks, borrow from the library or just an audible subscription (there is often try for free deals on so you don’t need to pay straight away). Or you could listen to podcasts or music, lots out there to help sleep.

Then you need to connect them to your phone - there will be instructions how to - and you can listen and sleep without disturbing anyone else. If you don’t have to worry about disturbing anyone else then just listen on your phone’s speakers.

I've had insomnia for 21 years. Sometimes chronic, sometimes not too bad.

TBH the most wonderful remedy I have found for this is 1. children growing up and not needing you at 6, 6.30, 7 am.

And 2. working from home. So when you wake in the small hours and fret about getting back to sleep because there is this great deadline of "starting the day" it isn't looming large over you.

Nowadays I usually go to sleep around 11, 11.30. Wake up at 4 and am awake for a couple of hours. Go back to sleep at 6 (because I know that's ok) and sleep til 8.30. I start work at 9, often still in my pyjamas having only been up for 10 minutes.

If I actually have to get up and start functioning like most people at 7am I will inevitably have a terrible night's sleep.

And I'm not anxious or an over-thinker. It's just that once I'm awake I'm really up and alert, not in a drowsy state that can easily sink back into sleep.

I don't have any mental health issues, particularly once I accepted I'm just not a great sleeper.

Thanks for all the extra suggestions, lots for me to look into......brown noise , white noise and audio books. Hhmmm, who'd have thought getting a good night's sleep could be so diversifying.

We nod off to Radio 4, unless they are broadcasting ghost stories at 11pm, as they keep doing at the moment. It seems to take 40 minutes max.

Also room dark and well ventilated. No phones etc.

Pink noise has changed my life. I cannot sleep without it.

Blackout blinds to ensure the room is pitch black. Some people use eye masks

Do not use devices an hour before bed whether that's phone, TV, iPad etc. the blue light keeps you awake

Have a night time routine you engage in every night so perhaps a shower and then reading a book

Do not nap in the day and if you need to, 20-30 mins max

No caffeine after mid day

Wake up the same time everyday regardless of how tired you may be

If you're struggling to fall asleep, research the military method or 4-7-8 breathing method